Trainee Profile: Tyler Wells

Tyler Wells, who has been working with the Brain Repair Centre for several years, is a PhD trainee in Dr. Turgay Akay’s lab as well a participant in the Atlantic Mobility Action Project. When he isn’t deep in research, he keeps busy working with the mental health support group in the Faculty of Medicine as well as being the President of the Medical Neuroscience Graduate Student Society. Wells was also recently elected as the trainee representative on the BRC executive committee.

In Fall 2021, Wells was awarded the 2021 McNee Award for his research in spinal circuitry related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a neurodegenerative disease that negatively impacts motor control. The annual award is a recognition of outstanding research achievements in graduate studies. He was awarded it shortly after a publication he was lead author on was published in the Journal of Neuroscience. The research was done alongside Jacob Myles and supervisor Dr. Akay.

“To me, the Brain Repair Centre offers opportunity for research, collaboration and industry outreach,” said Wells. “The ability to conduct groundbreaking research that can affect people living with neurological diseases and injury.”

Using a complex ALS mouse model, Wells’ work focused on C-boutons, which are large cholinergic synapses to motor neurons, and their influence on ALS. It’s suggested that therapies that target C-boutons could be beneficial for patients with ALS, thus offering improved mobility and quality of life.

Wells’ interest in motor function doesn’t end in the lab - he plays the guitar as a hobby and boxes on the weekends, both requiring great deals of coordination and dedication.

He sees himself still working in research in the next five years. “I would like to become a supervisor, and teach in a university setting,” said Wells. On top of teaching, he hopes to continue with the BRC.

“If there’s any advice I can offer to those interested in research in neuroscience, it’s to start early,” he said. “Establish communications, contacts and find opportunity.”